For Writers and Readers
REVIEWS
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These are submissions published with permission for critique. Please note that the reviewers do not see each other’s critiques and do not compare notes. Traditional publishers interested in any of the following work should feel free to contact us – we take no fees, and we would be pleased to pass along their details and we take no rights over writers’ work.
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Clay Birds
Jeremy Newman
Meet Your Other Half
(original submission)
"A cumulation of these issues, the Ma who isn’t a “ma”, the Pam who isn’t an aunt, the disjointed timeline, and the unsettling tone of the Pam/Hugh relationship all leave me confused and a bit perturbed. It might all become clear in the next few pages, but you’ve got to get your reader to those next few pages."
"I would probably give the story about two more pages before I decided if I wanted to keep reading or put it down and never look back."
Halloween
Steve Jaffa Brown
"Talking this to a friend I described this submission from Steve as being “like a shot of 90 proof vodka after having been drinking a nice red wine all evening.""
"Honestly. I'm not even sure what I just read... With some work this might turn into something but unfortunately right now I feel like I just read a fever dream."
Clay Birds resubmitted
Jeremy Newman
Meet Your Other Half
(original submission)
"What a complete transformation from the original submission."
"Overall, I’m also a little unsure whether the “digital” opening is sufficiently grabby – I’m not saying it isn’t, I like parts of it, it just feels like there might be more punch there."
Finkumpoops!
Patrick Whittaker
They're cute. They're brainy. And they're out to destroy the Earth.
"...this initial read did not have me rolling my eyes and muttering "nerd" under my breath. I sense a light-hearted, chuckle inspiring story is about to transpire and actually read all the way to the end of this submission."
"Young middle-grade stories tend to steer clear of "killing" humans as a plot device."
I Won't Miss
Isabelle Call
Some find out the hard way that a woman scorned can be the most dangerous thing in the world.
"I think it's important to tell stories like this one - stories of abuse and (hopefully) survival. Keep delving, tell more of the original love story, the time in the van and build to the abuse, there is a great concept here."
"Yes, I’d keep reading, and I’d love to see more authentic and tough work like this."